Short breaks are part of a range of services that support children and young people with disabilities and their families. They are hugely beneficial as they give children and young people the chance to take part in fun activities and develop new interests, relationships, and greater independence, whilst at the same time giving parents and carers a break from their caring responsibilities. There is a wide variety in short breaks in terms of:
- when they happen - evenings or after-school, weekends, school holidays or overnights;
- where they happen – positives activities in the family home, at school premises, at youth clubs or play schemes;
- how they happen - independent of other family members, as a family, or with other families;
- who provides them – the Council, voluntary or private sector.
Who can have a short break?
The Merton short breaks offer is designed for families living in Merton who are caring for disabled children and young people from birth up to their eighteenth birthday.
What short breaks are available in Merton?
Merton’s Guide to Short Breaks, Short Breaks Service Statement and Pathways to Access a Short Break documents set out the current offer and how it can be accessed. These are all available on the SEND Local Offer website.
Why are we asking for views?
We are keen to ensure that the short breaks offer meets the needs of children and young people with disabilities and their families. Therefore, we would like to know what parents and carers, children and young people, and professionals working with them, think about the social, play and leisure opportunities available in Merton. For example, is the range, type, amount and quality of short breaks good? Are there barriers to taking up the offer that need to be removed? Is it easy to find information on what short breaks are available? Is the assessment process for short breaks working well? Your views will help inform Merton’s short breaks offer from September 2025 onwards.
When is the short breaks consultation?
Phase One will start on Monday 8 July and will run until 18 August 2024.
Phase Two will be in the Autumn term 2024.
How do people give their views?
Parents and carers
Register for one of the in-person discussion groups. Details below:
| Date | Time | Venue and Address | Booking link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 July | 10.00am | Chaucer Centre Canterbury Road Morden SM4 6PX | or email Local.Offer@merton.gov.uk |
| 18 July | 6.30pm | Raynes Park Library 21 Approach Road Raynes Park SW20 8BA | or email Local.Offer@merton.gov.uk |
| 22 July | 1.00pm | New Horizon Centre South Lodge Avenue Mitcham CR4 1LT | or email Local.Offer@merton.gov.uk |
Register for one of the online discussion groups. Details below:
| Date | Time | Booking link |
|---|---|---|
| 19 July | 1.00pm | Book now |
| 23 July | 6.30pm | Book now |
If parents are unable to complete the survey or attend one of the discussion groups, they can email local.offer@merton.gov.uk for an opportunity to give their views by phone.
Children and young people with disabilities
We are asking parents and professionals who work with children to encourage, and if needed, to support children to complete the survey.
Participate in one of the engagement sessions that will be held across the borough during July and August.
Professionals working with children with disabilities and their families:
What happens after the consultation?
Once phase one of the consultation has ended, all the responses will be considered, and these will inform proposals on what Merton’s short breaks offer could look like in September 2025. There will then be a second phase of consultation in the Autumn term 2024 on these proposals.2024 on these proposals.